Railroad motor truck



Seggi RA ILROAD MOTOR TRUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet uw, ATTRNEYS RAILROAD MOTOR TRUCK @mam P. SCHON RAILROAD MOTOR TRUCK Filed April 26, 1923 3' SheLs-Shet 5 Patented Sept. 8, 1925.

UNITED STATES :emana scr-10N, or ronrrao, MICHIGAN.

RAILROAD MOTOR TRUCK;

Application filed April 26, 1923. Serial No. 634,809.

To all whom' t 'may concern Be it known that Pinnen SCHON, a. citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pontiac, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad Motor Trucks, ot which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railroad carand engine equipme t, and more particularly to an internal combustion motor railroad truck.

The primary object of the invention is to produce a self-contained, self balanced power unit or railroad motor truck for use in. connection with railway trains, cars, coaches, andrthe like, and particularly for use in connection with single coaches or cars, thereby enabling railroad companies to convert ordinary'treight or passenger cars into a self propelled transportation unittor use in handling tratlic on short haul lines where it is desirable to make more frequent trips with the consequent use ot lessequipment ope ated on a smaller and more economi :al scale. An additional object is to produce a railroad motor truck ot the Yforegoing character propelled by an internal combustion engine thereby enabling a railroad company to dispense with the use o-t steam locomotivesl now ordinarily used for handling one or two coaches at a time on short lines.

In the practice of my invention, 'a railroad company may quickly and econon'iicallv convert any'ordinary coach, freight car. Pullman, or private car, into a fully equipped self-contained power operatedv car, thereby dispensing with the use of a steam locomotive. in handling one or two cars which makes for the economy in transporting small units or railroad equipment. In addition to the foregoing, my improved railroad motor truck may he used as a switching engine 'about railway yards and terminals, and is much more economical in this respect than thesteam locomotive. Railroads may utilize my improved power truck for converting their old coaches and car equipment otherwise not useful, into single power driven cars for shortlines and the like'.

The `design and-construction of my railroad motor truck is otsurh character that a railroad `car may be readily converted into ad power driven Car by lifting up one end olfl the ear, removing .the present four or six wheel truck and axle set, and thereupon rolll ing my motor truck under the car. The suspended car now let down in position upon thev saddle or bolster of the motor truck, the king pin is adjusted .in position thereby pivotally connecting the coacl1 and truck together, which completes the installation and thus providinga self propelled .transportation unit ready Jr'or immediate service; and inasmuch as the rear end of the coach or car remains standard as to` couplings, air connections, and the like, the

converted coach] may be utilized as a power t wheel and axle set into a motor driven wheel and axle set. .'llie'construction, arrangement, and use of parts may he varied to suit particular needs, without departing from the scope and principle of my invention.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates a side, view of one end ot an ordinary passenger coach or car with my improved truck adapted thereto; and the drivers ,vestibule ot the motor truck is shown in section to.l\ctter illustrate'the insallatiou of the power plant and controls uponl the truck. l

Figure 2 shows an underneath plan view oi" the motor truck.

Figure 3 shows a side sectional view-as developed on the line 3 3 ol' Figure 4l,- ilinsti-ating a slightly modified form or design of the motortruck,

Figure 4- illustrates a top view or plan of the Amotor truck shown in Figure 3, with the i engine removed therefrom.

Figure 5 shows a fragmentary sectional view of the motor truck illustrated in Figure l, the section being taken on the line 5-5 ot Figure 2.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate an improved transmission and gear case specially designed for use in connection with converting an ordinary railroad wheel and axle set' showing the Worm wheel parts in section ligure illustrating a complete side view of `will be hereinafter described.

the gear case-shown in Figure 6.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown a railway car Wheel and axle set comprising wheelsl() and axles 11 carrying dual semi-elliptic springs 12 anchored toy a a truck bolster 18. A truck frame 13 is carried upon the lsprings and projects forwardly and rearwardly of the wheel and axle set, thereby affording a truck 4frame of substantial length` upon which is installed.

the engine, material tanks, and various equipment required in this self propelled and contained railroad motor truck. A king pin 14C pivotally joins the truck with a railroad coach or car C. andv relative swinging motion is lallowed between the truck and coach in the saine manner as in the use of an ordinary Wheeland axle set, thereby enabling the motor driven truck to 'negotiate track curves by swinging around the king pin 14. A drivers vestibule 15 is installed on the forward end of the truck frame 13, and is provided with windows 16 affording clear vision to the car operator whether driving forwardly or backing up. The vestibule is made with doors 17: and the vestibule affords thorough protection to the vdriver i'n m'ost inclement weather. The structure of this vestibule is of such design as enables `it to nt under the overhanging platform roof R of the ordinary railroad coach C thus utilizing that space at the end .of coach for the truck vestibule. Suiiicicnt clearance exists between the vestibule and coach as will allow adequate lateral rclative movement between the coach and truck in neo'otiating curves.

` A heavy duty power plant comprising a water jacketed internal combustion motor 19 is installed at the forward end of the truck frame 13 in the drivers vestibule, and is provided with the usual type of clutch and transmission controls making for flexibility and eiiiciency in operating'thc motor truck, The engine is necessarily of the heavy duty type and is tted with a suitable gear reduction transmission possessing` a plurality of forward and reveise speeds. The transmission preieralily comprises a primary transmission 21 driven as by a chain 21a from the engine 19 together with a secondary transmission 20. The transmissions 21,

and 20 are internally gear or chain driven, and through the agency of this combination transmission, a Wide range of power land speed is available to run the truck. The propeller and drive shafts and correlated driving gears on the axle and Wheel set, as driven from the engine and transmission,

The transmission isfitted with gear shift levers 22 and 23 adapted to `control the combination primary and secondary gear reduction transmission carried on the engine as a unitary part thereof. A clutch release pedal 24 connects through a rod 25 with the enlgine. clutch 26 for controlling the engine clutch and gear shift transmission means. A brake and brake drum 27 is mounted onA the transmission and contains suitable braking mechanism, and is operated through a pedal 28 with connecting links 29 and 30. This drum 27 is employed primarily for the purpose of holding in check the truck when it is operated as a. separate' unit disconnected from a coach, fiat car etc.; and this brake'is also useful in case of emergency,

.should t-he 'air brake fail to function.

Throttle. and other necessary controls are established in the drivers cab for operating and controlling the truck. i I

An air `.compressor 82 .fs installed upon and driven directly from the engine 19, and the compressor stores air in an air tank 33 'placed on the rear of the truck frame. The compressed air tank 33 is employed for op'- erating the usual railway air brake system -on the coach and others which may be con nected therewith. My invention also contemplates tlie use of an electric generator driven by the engine for charging storage batteries and the like for the car lighting system. I

I employ 'an improved Water cooling and radiating system for use in connection with the ,heavy duty power plant, and the truck design and arrangement of parts is laid out wit-h theI viewl of accommodating such engine cooling system. Additional reference lis now madeto Figure 3 Where a stand pipe 34 made open at the top is secured to the uppermost part of the water'jacketed lengine 19, `and 4a Water glass gage 35 is placed on the Water stand pipe to indicate the amount.

bil

ing medium; and the fooling medium is' conveniently replenished by filling the open end stand pipe. The stand pipe is preferabliy vented out through the ca b to carry away vapor arising from the Water empioyedA in cooling the motor; and'to this end, thestandfpipe is made relatively `small in diameter and rather tall in order that an adequate supply of Water be available to feed the motor and the cooling system, as

Well as dispose the upper end of the stand f pipe out thro-ugh the drivers cab.

A Water reserve supply tank 36 is mountj y ed 'at the rear end of the truck frameand aV return pipe 37 connects the stand pipe and reserve tank for the purpose ofleading the hot water from the engine vandstandpipe back to tbe tapk 36. A water pipe 38 connects the Water tank 36 with the engine 19;.and a circulating pump39 is driven from the engine and connects with the pipe 38 for theA purpose of circulatingwvatei" of the truck and engine over the 'Wheels' Pipes are employed to convey 'fuel to the engine and sand to the tracks.

A description will now be given of the car Wheel and axle set. drive transmission which is operated from the engine, and additional reference is made to Figures 5, 6 and 7 in the drawings.' The transmission elements which I have designed and brought together for this Work readily en ables the railroad company to convert the old truck wheel and axle into drivers functioning as locomotive drivers for use in conneet-ion with my railroad motor truck; and to this end I employ a ange 41 made integral with aliub 42 which is placed upon the car axle as by splitting the said flange and hub unless the car Wheel 10 is removed tor this assembling Work. This tlangedlhub is Welded, keyed, or otherwise permanently anchored to the axle 11: and a. gear Wheel 43, or preferably a Worm Wheel, is bolted to the liange 41. A gear case or housing 44 encloses the worm Wheel 43. and roller bearvings 45 are interposed between the rotating hub 42 and the stationary gear case 44. A nrt 46 is Set 'up against the bearing race which securelv anchors the parts in operating position.- A worm shatt 47 is liournaled on ball or roller bearings in the. gear case 44, and a Worm 4S integral with the shaft meshes with the Worm Wheel 43. It is to be appreciated that the problem ot building" up and installing a. suitable gear drive set on a. railroad car axle is a more or less ditiicult one, and especially so since it may be desirable in some instances to install some ot the parts Without removing the car Wheel from the axle. I construct the gea-r case 44 in section and employ two pairs ot said sections, one pair 'for either side ot the Worm Wheelfy 1t is observed how, in Figures 6 and 7, the said gear case 44 consists of' tour parts Where it is necessary to make the installation on the car axle without removing the wheel; and the housing sections are bolted together thus providing a heavy and substantial gear drive assembly.

It is understood how the gear case 44 remains stationary While the gear parts therein are driven from the engine; and accordingly a radius rod 51 is pivotally mounted on a pin 52 carried in a lug 53 cast integral with the gear case 44. The radius rod 51. is carried upon cach lar axle gear case 44 and runs to the center o'l the truck where it is pivoted to a shackle joint 54, which functions to hold the axle gear boxes or houses 44 in alignment, While at the saine time relative motion between the car Wheels and truck frame ispermitted through the action of the truck springs. Thuseach gear case 44 is held positively against rotation` there:i by removing strain from the Worm and shaft 47 as Well as the connecting drive shaft and propeller shaft. A drive shaft 55 connects the Worm shafts 47 of each axle; and a propeller shaft 56 connects one ot the Worm shafts with the engine transmission 20 thereby establishing a drive connection from the engine to the car drivers or Wheels which are accordingly converted into traction Wheels. Standard spline-d shatt joints and universal joints are employed to advan` tage in setting up the sha'tt drive assembly.

It is to be observed that the design and construction of the railroad motor truck as exhibited in Figure 1 employs a dual semielliptic` spring suspension, while in Figure 3 I have illustrated a coil spring suspension consisting of coil springs 57 nested between the truck bolster 18 and car axle journaled box cradle 758. It is to be appreciated that either type of spring suspension may be et' fectively employed for use in connection with the structure constituting my invention; and the invention is presented to till the Want felt for railroad equipment of this improved type.

What I claim is 1 1. An improved combination railroad car motor truck comprising a substantially long frame, truck Wheels carried under the center ot' the frame, frame pieces extending torivardly of the Wheels, frame pieces extending rearwardly of the Wheels, an engine installed on the front ot' the frame, material ltanks carried on the rear of the frame and adapted to balance with the Weight of the engine over the said truck Wheels, and transmission means connecting the engine With the truck Wheels.

2. An improved combination railroad .notlor truck comprising a car Wheel and axle set, a frame extending beyond said wheel and axle set at each end thereof.y a eear Wheel fixed on an axle of the said "lieel and axle set, an engine mounted upon one end of the truck frame and extending be low the t 1ame and in position aligned .Witl the axles, a gear reduction transmission" driven by the engine., a propeller shati. con necting the transmission with the gear Wheel, material tanks installed on the other end of vthe frame and'extending below -salid ipo ' axle set -and extending beyond the wheels y on the other -end of the frame beyond theeframe in alignment with the wheel and axle -set thereby leaving a clear and unobstructed -nnit comprising a car wheel Vand axle set,

gears fixed to each axle, a drive shai'tcon neeting the gears and adapted to drive same, a truck frame carried'over the wheel and at the front and rear, an engine installed on the front end of the frame beyond the wheels, a gear reduction transmission driven by the'engine, a propeller. shaft connecting the transmission with the drive shaft and gears, and material and fuel tanks installed wheelsto balance with the engine weight over the wheel and axle set.

e. A railroad motor truck comprising a substantially long truck frame, a drivenor kengineers vestibule carried on one end of the frame, an engine and controls installed non the frame within the vestibule, fuel and Vmaterial tanks located 'on the other end of A the trame, a car wheel and axle. set centrally situated under the frame balancing the said tanks and vestibule end oi' the motor truck, and transmission means connecting the en# gine with the wheel and axle set. p

5. 'A motor truck for railroadv coaches and cars comprising a truck wheel andv axle set, a truck frame mounted thereon and projecting to the frornt and rear of the truck wheels, iuel and material tanks located onthe rear of the frfame, an enclosed vestibule cab on. tne 'front end of the frame, an engine and controls installed in the cab, and transmission means connecting the engine with the Wheel and axle set.

6; A combination railroad coach 'and mo.- tor truck comprising an ordinary railroad car possessing an overhanging car end platform roof, a mptor truck frame, a king' pin arried in the truck frame and fitting into the king pin bearing seat oflfthe coach vthereby adapting the truck to swing or pivot under the coach, a drivers cab mounted on the iront of the truck frame and disposed under the overhanging coach end, anengine installed inthe cab, material tanks installed on the rear of the truck frame, car wheels and axles supporting the frame, and transmission means running from the engine to the wheel and axle set.

7. i combination railroad motor truck comprising'a` wheel and axle set, a frame disposed over the truck and projecting forwardly and to the rear of the wheels, a,-

power plP L. carried on one end of the frame,

.a cooling system including a water tank carried on thev other end of the frame, wa-

.ter pipe connections running from the power plant to the tank to supply cooling medium tol the power plant, suitable transmission means connectingthe power plant to the 4 i I l 1,553,051

-to the power plant, suitable transmission means connecting the power plant to the wheel and axle set, and a stand pipe earried upon the engine adapted to feed-water to the engine cooling system. i

- 9. A combination railroad .motor truck comprising a wheel and axle set, a frame disposed over the truck, a power plant carried on the frame, a cooling system includ ing a water tank carried von the frame, water pipe connections running fromthe power plant to the tank to supply cooling medium to the power'plant suitable transmission means connecting the power plant to the wheel and axle set, and a water stand pipe connected with'the pipe connections main taining a highl water level in the engine cooling system. l l0. A combination railroad motor truck comprising a wheel and axle set, a frame disposed over the truck, a power plant carried on the frame, a cooling system including a Water tank carried on the Jframe, watery pipe connections running from the Powerplant to the tank to supply cooling medium to the power plant, suitable transmission means connecting the power plant to the wheel and axle set, and a standpipe carried uponvthe engine adapted to feed Water to the engine cooling system. "11. A combination railroad motor truck comprising a wheel and axle set, a frame disposed rover the truck and projecting forwardly and tothe rear of the Wheels, a power plant carried on one end of the frame, a cooling system including a water tank carried on the other end of the frame, water pipes connecting the power plant and tank, transmission means connecting the` power plant to the wheel and axle set, and material tanks disposed adjacent the water tank combining in weight therewith and adapted to balance with the power plant.

12. A motor truck for railroad coaches 'and cars comprising a truck wheel and axle mission means connecting the engine with wad comme;

` and m, fue. 'jf-mme, am me, an my bhe ging and cotros insaled in 'zhe @nhg Engin@ cnong sytem compz'sng sfandpp mounte upon the singin@ to Emi Waar she amd vented Uuwa'dy through the westbue, and transmission mean@ @fm-- keating th@ engin@ with. tha Wlm' amd. mil@ n testimonywlerao hereunto aza my Sgmtum.

' v PEHRE SCHN. 

